BASIC BEEF STOCK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450°F. Arrange the ribs in a large roasting pan; sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast 1 1/2 hours, turning the ribs halfway through.
• Combine 3 quarts water and the tomatoes and their juice in a stockpot. Bundle the bay leaves, peppercorns, and dill in a small piece of cheesecloth; tie with kitchen twine, and add to the pot.
• Transfer the roasted ribs to the pot. Pour off and discard the fat from the roasting pan. Pour the remaining cup water into the pan, and place over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom, until the liquid is reduced by half. Transfer the liquid and bits to the stockpot.
• Cover the pot; bring the mixture to a simmer over high heat, but do not boil. Reduce heat to a gentle simmer, and place a smaller pot lid directly on surface of stock to keep ingredients submerged; cook until the meat is very tender and pulls away from the bone, about 1 1/2 hours. Skim the surface with a spoon as needed.
• Prepare an ice-water bath. Remove the herb bundle from the pot, squeezing out the liquid into the pot, and discard. Strain the stock through a sieve into a large heatproof bowl set in the ice-water bath. Stir frequently until the stock is room temperature.
• Transfer the ribs and tomato pieces to another bowl. When cool enough to handle, pull the rib meat from the bones, and shred it with your fingers. Discard the bones. Store the meat and tomato pieces in an airtight container in the refrigerator, up to 3 days.
• Transfer the cooled stock to airtight containers; refrigerate at least 6 hours or overnight. With a large metal spoon, skim off and discard fat layer that has collected on the top. If storing, leave fat layer intact (it helps seal in flavor).